Contributed by: pashapasha(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on October 16th 2005In the late `80s, alternative/college rock was becoming a force in mainstream music and some bands were starting to play arenas and going gold or platinum. Fishbone was part of that wave. Their second full-length, Truth and Soul, which came out in 1988, rode it to a maximum. Their previous effort, I.

In the late `80s, alternative/college rock was becoming a force in mainstream music and some bands were starting to play arenas and going gold or platinum. Fishbone was part of that wave. Their second full-length, Truth and Soul, which came out in 1988, rode it to a maximum. Their previous effort, It's a Wonderful Life (Gonna Have a Good Time), was a lively mix of ska, reggae, funk, soul and punk -- and now hard rock was added to this category.

The CD itself is one of Fishbone's best, along with The Reality of My Surroundings. It has some awsome ska songs ("Ma and Pa," one of Fishbone's best), lots of funk ("Questions of Life" and "Bonin' in the Boneyard," which has some incredible bass work, and "One Day") and hard rock / punk ("Freddie's Dead," a great cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Subliminal Fascism") and even some kind of greengrass/rock ("Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party)"). The band has also greatly improved in the lyrics department, with some great songs about racism and discrimination like "Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party)," "Deep Inside," "One Day," "Subliminal Fascism" and "Ghetto Soundwave."

Great horns (listen to "Questions of Life" and "Ma and Pa"), incredible bass work and guitars mixed with some great lyrics make this one of Fishbone's best CDs, and a must-have if you're a fan of ska, funk or any sort of music, and probably one of the `80s best musical creations.

It's not that they sound like reel big fish, it would actually be the other way around, but I just feel that some songs (IE: party at ground zero) have that cheese-core feel to them, with the corny sounding horns.

i just remember there saturday night live performance when the guy does a sitting somersault roll toward the camera while holding a glass cane and being awesome.

wyzo

Anonymous (October 17, 2005)

their best record in my humble opinion

Anonymous (October 16, 2005)

It's official: BYO Records have the WORST international mail order service ever. I ordered some stuff from them in July, and I've yet to receive it. I e-mailed them about it 9 days ago, and they still haven't responded.

-Chinatown

Anonymous (October 16, 2005)

"This band puts off too much of a cheesy real big fish vibe for me. But I really like the song "Unyielding unconditional" (sic?). Can anyone recommend any other songs or particular albums along those lines?

-Not-To-Regret"

hahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahha hahahahhahahaha

Anonymous (October 16, 2005)

This band puts off too much of a cheesy real big fish vibe for me. But I really like the song "Unyielding unconditional" (sic?). Can anyone recommend any other songs or particular albums along those lines?